The skipper of the "Heron" was dozing on his bunk when they roused him. "What do you want?" he growled. "Cannot you let a fellow have a decent night's rest?" "You'll not rest much when you hear what has happened," said Jacob. "Then keep the news till morning," replied Phil. "It is not the sort of news to keep. We must act at once. Sit up and listen. The black pearl has been stolen." Phil Danks was wide awake now, and sprang out of his bunk. "What's that you say?" "The black pearl has been stolen," said Jacob. "It is quite true," said Jack, showing the empty case, and proceeded to explain how he discovered his loss. "I can't make it out," said Phil. "If you had the belt on at night, how the case was got at. When did you see it last?" "When I went into my cabin the night before we entered Shark's Bay." "Then it must have been stolen during the night. I have it," he said, excitedly. "I'll bet a trifle one of those black fellows has it. They are as cunning as dingoes." "You're right," said Jacob. "I ought to have thought of that before, and I know which of 'em it is--Kylis. Why did he come sneaking round to see us playing cards? He was hanging about half the night, watching his chance." "But how could he take the case out of my belt, without waking me, open it, and replace it?" asked Jack. "There's no telling what a black thief like him can do. They're clever all of 'em, and Kylis is about the smartest of the lot. It's my belief he's in with Amos Hooker over this job. I had my doubts when you told me who got you the men. Now I am certain Amos had a hand in it. Why did he not come back to the schooner again after taking them ashore? I thought it strange at the time, but I see his reason now. He thought if the loss of the pearl was discovered he might be asked nasty questions, difficult to answer." "Had we better put back and try and recover it?" asked Jack. "There's not much chance of that," said Phil. "You see, we have no proof they have it, and even if we had we should not be able to recover it without paying a big reward. The best thing we can do is to get to Fremantle as quickly as possible, lay the whole circumstances before Barry Tuxford, tell him our suspicions, and hear what he has to say." Jack felt relieved. He had great faith in Barry, and thought he might probably devise some means to recover the pearl. "He'll be very angry about it, I expect," said Jack. "Oh, no, he won't. You do not know Barry as well as I do," said Jacob. "He seldom gets ruffled. We have a rich cargo on board, that will pay us all well without the black pearl, and he'll be satisfied. I'll tell you what he will do. He'll set himself to get that pearl from Amos Hooker, if he has it, and he knows the way to put the screw on." "Then you think there is some probability of getting it back?" said Jack. Jacob shook his head as he replied-- "I doubt it; but if any man can recover it, that man is Barry Tuxford."